Tucson man dies after injuries sustained in dog attack

Earlier in August, Michael Cook was attacked by the dog he owned -- described as a "pit bull/lab mix".

After two weeks of hospitalization, Mr. Cook succumbed to his injuries and died.

Not a lot of information is known about the attack since the man was alone when it happened. However, the dog, Butch, had just been neutered and was still medicated at the time that the attack occurred. I've never heard of anestesia leading to aggression, but do know that dogs react differently to it and many don't act normally for awhile while it wears off. 

Added: I've received a couple of emails now from people that have noted that dogs can sometimes really struggle coming out of anethetic -- that that, along with pain, can be a very tough combination (depending on the types/combination of drugs used) that certainly could have been a causal factor here.

It is always important for people to keep in mind that dog attacks are not a breed-specific issue, and that circumstances that surround the attack are always more important than the type of dog involved. 

My heart goes out to the Cook family. It sounds as if he was a good man and loved his pets, and my heart goes out to them as they deal with their loss.

Comments

[Donna]

Very sad. Anesthesia can definitely affect behavior. People report hallucinations, for example. Depending on the drug or combo of drugs used, it can bring on delirium/confusion which can exasperate existing fear issues in dogs for days or even weeks. It can bring on seizures too.The Center for Veterinary Health Services reports: "Owners may comment that their dog is never the same since the anesthesia which may indicate a cerebral anoxic damage" http://instruction.cvhs.okstate.edu/vmed5412/pdf/22Canine-FelineAnesthesia.pdf

[Brent]

Thanks Donna for the data -- I know that we've had dogs that have been "awkward" after anethesia, and certainly in pain, which can also be a factor. This is an unusual case, but this really does seem to be the "why" in this case...

[YesBiscuit!]

What a tragedy. I really hate having no hope of finding out the exact circumstances in these types of cases because it makes it seem even more tragic - like we can't even learn any lessons from it.

[Donna]

We've seen vets overdo it with the anesthesia - especially vets that aren't comfortable with the breed. Not vets we use again, natch.'

[kmk]

If I'm not mistaken I think some breeds are more sensitive to anesthesia than others.

[Dianne Rhodes]

When I adopted my Savannah, I signed a contract forbidding the use of Ketamine. Apparently these hybrids have an adverse reaction to it, and I have heard it can cause hallucinations. My vet said it was not a problem to use another anesthetic.

[KateH]

Acepromazine is often used as part of the 'cocktail' of drugs for anesthetia, and it, especially, can end up with a pet who reacts aggressively. Some old-school vets, or cheap clients, still use it for light 'tranquelizer' effect, although there are much better drugs available.

As for Ketamine, anyone who's watched a cat come out of surgery with it, it's hard to understand why people take it 'recreationally.' Cats (and dogs) always seem like they are seeing the scariest things that only they can see. Hallucinations, and aggression, could lead to a violent attack, and all it would take would be a 'lucky' bite in the wrong spot to cause death. So unfair to the man and his dog.